Navigating Mental Health as an Aspiring Parent in Egg Donation
by MyEggBankin GeneralMay 16th, 2024
Egg donation helps LGBTQ+ couples, intended single fathers, and women who cannot use their own eggs achieve their family-building dreams. But just like any path to parenthood, it comes with its unique challenges — namely, its impact on mental health for aspiring parents (especially women) who are having children in a way they may not have originally intended.
If you’re relying on third-party reproduction to grow your family, you may feel like you’re navigating uncharted waters. In our society, the expectation of conceiving and starting a family is deeply ingrained. So how can you protect your mental health throughout the egg donation process? Here are some tips.
1. Identify and Feel Your Grief
Grief can come in many different forms. You may be grieving previous losses or the fact that your child may not be yours biologically, even if you carry the pregnancy. Building your family via third-party reproduction, like egg donation, can come with a mixed bag of emotions, making you feel like you’ve lost control over something that seems to come easy for many others. Recognizing this grief is crucial in order to overcome it. Your feelings are valid, and you don’t have to face them alone.
2. Seek Professional Help and Support
If you start feeling emotionally overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor (especially one specializing in fertility) can help you understand your emotions and guide you through them. You can also find support groups for aspiring parents growing their families via egg donation. Connecting with others going through the same process can make you feel less alone.
3. Embrace Your Unique Path
As challenging as your journey may be, it can also provide opportunities for personal growth and positive change. Seeking meaning in your situation through community engagement, helping others, or investing in self-care or a new hobby can bring joy and fulfillment as you plan for your family's future. Even something as simple as sharing your story can have a positive impact.
Your Egg Donation Partner
Navigating your mental health throughout the egg donation process isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re looking for answers, turn to the expert team at MyEggBank. MyEggBank has one mission: to help people become parents. We house the largest database of donors, giving aspiring parents the resources they need to grow the family of their dreams. For more information, contact us today.